Mikaela Shiffrin continued her reign over women’s slalom with a breathtaking performance at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Gurgl, securing her record-extending 103rd career victory and 66th slalom triumph. The American icon dominated the Kirchenkar course, finishing 1.23 seconds ahead of the field with the fastest times in both runs, while 19-year-old Albanian sensation Lara Colturi claimed second and Swiss star Camille Rast rounded out the podium in third.
In a repeat of last week’s Levi thriller, Shiffrin and Colturi locked horns at the top, but the veteran edged out the prodigy once again on the steep, technical track under brilliant Tyrolean sunshine. Rast, the reigning world slalom champion, fought through lingering pains from an earlier-season setback to deliver a podium-worthy comeback, marking Switzerland’s first top-three finish in the discipline this year. The “Queens of Gurgl” podium – as dubbed by fans on social media – showcased a perfect blend of experience, youth, and resilience.
Shiffrin, who entered the day leading the overall standings by 170 points after her Levi win (her 102nd), now boasts an unassailable 250-point cushion in the slalom discipline. “This course always brings out the best – or the worst – in you,” Shiffrin said in a post-race interview, her signature smile masking the intensity of the 52-gate battle. “Lara and Camille pushed me every turn; it’s races like this that keep the fire alive. Grateful for my team and the roar from the crowd – this one’s for everyone chasing dreams on these slopes.”
Colturi, the 2025 Longines Rising Star and daughter of 2002 Olympic super-G gold medalist Daniela Ceccarelli, etched her name deeper into World Cup lore with back-to-back runner-up finishes to start her breakout season. At just 19, the Italo-Albanian skier – who trains in Italy – became the youngest woman to achieve five World Cup podiums, all in slalom. “Skiing against Mikaela is like racing a mountain,” Colturi beamed. “I’m learning so much, and second again? It’s fuel for more.”
Rast’s third-place finish was a gritty redemption after a tough Levi outing. The Valais native, who won gold at the 2025 World Championships in Saalbach, overcame discomfort to post the second-fastest second run. “Pain or no pain, Gurgl feels like home,” Rast told Swiss media. “This podium is for the team – we’re building momentum for Milano Cortina.” Her result vaults Switzerland into contention early in the Olympic-qualifying season.
The U.S. team showed depth beyond Shiffrin, with Paula Moltzan charging to fourth – her best Gurgl finish since sixth last year – while Nina O’Brien and AJ Hurt cracked the top 20. Italy’s Lara Della Mea was the top blue-ribbon finisher in 18th, though the Azzurri rued several second-run errors. Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutić, a pre-race favorite after her mid-season surge last year, faltered with a disappointing qualifying miss, highlighting the slalom’s unforgiving nature.
Saturday’s men’s slalom added to Gurgl’s historic weekend, with France’s Paco Rassat notching his first World Cup win and Belgium celebrating a groundbreaking podium via Armand Marchant in second – the nation’s best-ever technical result. Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, meanwhile, made waves as the first Brazilian slalom victor the prior weekend in Levi.
Shiffrin’s Gurgl mastery now ties her with freestyle legend Conny Kissling for the most wins (66) in a single Olympic winter discipline, surpassing Ingemar Stenmark’s 86 slalom mark overall. With 103 victories and 159 podiums (91 in slalom), the 30-year-old has 24 Austrian wins – a record – underscoring her affinity for the terrain that birthed modern alpine racing.
As the 2025-26 season ramps up toward the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, Shiffrin’s form signals U.S. dominance, but Colturi and Rast prove the throne is no longer solitary. “She’s not just winning; she’s elevating the sport,” U.S. coach Paul Kristofic said. “And with talents like Lara and Camille rising, every race is a coronation.”
Tune in next for the women’s slalom in Killington, Vermont, on December 7 – Shiffrin’s home turf defense. Live coverage streams on Peacock, NBCSN, and FIS platforms worldwide.
